NCCo Council to vote on large shopping center near Newark Tuesday

Once approved and recorded, ground breaking for Promenade at Christiana is expected to happen as early as spring after the 286,000-square-foot warehouse is demolished.

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By Kim Manahan@MT_KimManahan

Middletown Transcript

By Kim Manahan@MT_KimManahan

Posted Feb. 7, 2013 at 4:00 AM

By Kim Manahan@MT_KimManahan

Posted Feb. 7, 2013 at 4:00 AM

Newark, Del.

Plans to tear down the old Sears Warehouse east of Del. Route 273 and replace it with a 443,300-square-foot shopping center were introduced to New Castle County Council Tuesday.

Once approved and recorded, ground breaking for Promenade at Christiana is expected to happen as early as spring after the 286,000-square-foot warehouse is demolished.

Letters of intent for about half of the stores in the shopping center have already been discussed with potential tenants, said Richard Forsten, who spoke on behalf of the developer at Tuesday's Land Use Committee meeting.

"It's a good thing for the area," said Councilman Joe Reda. "It's already commercial and it will bring a lot of construction jobs and permanent and part time jobs for stores there."

Forsten said that the project is a $75 million investment in New Castle County, which is being paid for by the developer.

The parcel of land in White Clay Creek Hundred on the Southside of Interstate 95 was zoned Commercial- Residential in 2008 so it would not have to be rezoned.

County Council will vote on the plans Tuesday at its regular Council meeting.